… As Community Leaders Call for Governor’s Intervention
The Ikejiani 1 of Okpanam and spokesperson of Ogbeozoma community in Okpanam, Chief Felix Okafor has called on the Delta State government to figure out the actual boundary between Issele Azagba in Aniocha North and Ogbeozoma in Oshimili North Local Government.
Okafor made the call while speaking with journalists during a press briefing which held at the Ogbeozoma town hall in Okpanam.
On his part the secretary said they were not satisfied with the resolution of the boundary committee, hence the need for government to constitute another committee to use the GPS to remedy the situation and map out the boundary for the sake of peace.
He said the long-running boundary dispute between Okpanam and and Issele Azagba has escalated after a recent demarcation exercise, adding that it places the new boundary well outside the area both sides have been contesting.
According to him, the newest survey and pegging carried out as part of a government boundary demarcation put the line in a spot that her community does not accept. “The area in question, and where they are now pegging, or demarcating the land, falls outside the area, the location, where these two communities are contesting for”.
Okafor added that what they were doing was wrong and out of the place in contest. “While we are fighting for development we are now face with the challenges of land grabbers”, he said.
He said the encroachment into their boundary adding that a look at the survey chart indicates a difference from what they were talking about. “For them to have moved from that location down to Sumin company is what something we can’t take”.
On his part, the Secretary of Ogbeozoma community, Mr Godwin Nwalie appealed to the state government to look into the issue so as not to prompt a situation of unrest, as it was their ancestral land.
He urged government to come to their rescue and remedy the situation and If need be, constitute another committee to handle and shoulder this responsibility.”
Speaking on of the youths in the community, Mr Stephen Ifesindi questioned the impartiality of the current committee and surveyors, suggesting personal relationships may be influencing the outcome.
“We are not comfortable with the Surveyor General. What he’s doing, we are not comfortable with him” he said.
He called for GPS-based verification of the true boundary, “Let him use the GPS to indicate where the boundary is. Let him not frustrate us. We want the government to come into this issue and remedy the situation.”
Community members also pointed to friendships and allegiances they say have shaped the process. One speaker noted that several local leaders and influential figures have close ties with those now favouring the disputed demarcation.
